Praktica PL Nova 1

Let me introduce my latest Praktica, a Nova 1 PL

This came from Ebay the other day, I was actually just wanting the Domiplan Lens to try on another Praktica,however the item only got one bid, mine, so for the vast sum of 99p + postage, I obtained what looks like a quite tidy camera. I think this one will have to stay together as a complete unit, and hopefully I can run a film through it and see what faults it may have. A quick check reveals that the iris is very slightly sluggish, it is working, but is a tad on the slow side, the slow speeds are looking a bit slow with the shutter staying open at 1 sec sometimes. All the fast speeds are working and sound about right.

I suppose the shutter really needs a service, but I'll try it first and see what we get. The shutter has speeds of B, 1/1,1/2,1/4,1/8,1/15,1/30,1/60,1/125,1/250,1/500. So it has everything I need for most occasions.

Cosmetically the Domiplan lens is in lovely condition and the glass is nice and clear, so lets hope it will perform. I really like the Domiplan lens, it gets a bad press at times but the one on my EXA 500 produces really pleasing results, lets hope this one will too.

The body looks good, just the odd mark. I have not cleaned it yet, so should be able to improve it with a very gentle clean.

No scuffs, the back looks good.

Even the base looks un marked which is unusual. Looks like this one might have had a gentle life. Domiplan lens is number 4272054.

Body number 463543, I wonder if the lens and body have been together from new ? It looks that sort of not messed with camera, if you get what I mean.

According to praktica-collector.de which is my favourite Praktica site, there were 136,000 of this model made, between April 1967 and March 1972, so quite a long production run. The designer was of course Mr Herbert Welzel.

From what I understand the PL part of the model name refers to Pentacons then new Pentacon Loading System, which was supposed to make the film loading much easier!

We shall see! I thought the previous system was okay anyway, on the older models, it will be interesting to see how I find the PL system in practise.

Well, the dog needs a walk, I need a cup of Yorkshire tea, so I'll leave it there for now! I cant wait to try this one out. Take care and why not dig out that old Exakta or Praktica, or similar, put a film through it and see what it can do.

Philip Walker